Nonnenpoort

Nonnenpoort – or Nuns Gate – owes its name to the nuns residing in the convents of Thabor and Blijdenberg, located outside the city. The gate was their access to the city. Both convents were destroyed in 1572 during the Eighty Years’ War, rendering the gate redundant. Eventually it was dismantled.

Centjesmuur

The wall known as Centjesmuur on Guido Gezellelaan was built after 1660 as part of the wall enclosing Mechelen’s Large Beguinage. The wall, approximately half of which has survived, was originally called Oordjesmuur. The beguines contributed an ‘oordje’ or farthing every week - the then smallest denomination - towards the construction of the wall. With the reform of the currency, it was renamed Centjesmuur. At the time, Centjesmuur was not part of the wall around the city.     

Impression of Nonnenpoort from outside the city, 1570 (Jan-Baptist De Noter).  © www.regionalebeeldbank.be

Impression of Nonnenpoort from inside the city, 1500 © www.regionalebeeldbank.be

Part of the beguinage wall - Begijnhofmuur - on Guido Gezellelaan, also known as Centjesmuur. © www.regionalebeeldbank.be

Impression of the entrance to the Large Beguinage on Nieuwe Beggaardenstraat, 1790 (Jan-Baptist De Noter). © www.regionalebeeldbank.be